'Fast Five' tops for Dwayne Johnson

Published 12:05 am, Friday, July 25, 2014

In collaboration with Rotten Tomatoes, Hearst Newspapers presents the critical consensus of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's best-reviewed films. His latest, "Hercules," opens Friday in area theaters.

1. "Fast Five" (2011) 77 percent: Sleek, loud, and over the top, this film proudly embraces its brainless action thrills and injects new life into the franchise, with help from Johnson as an agent on the crew's tail.

2. "The Rundown" (2003) 71 percent: This doesn't break any new ground, but it's a smart, funny buddy action picture with terrific comic chemistry between Johnson and Seann William Scott.

3. "Fast & Furious 6" (2013) 68 percent: With high-octane humor and terrific action scenes, this film builds upon the winning blockbuster formula that made "Fast 5" a critical and commercial success, with Johnson giving a typically assured supporting performance.

4. "Snitch" (2013) 56 percent: Although it features one of Johnson's more thoughtful performances, the presentation of this film's underlying message is muddled by lackluster storytelling and some tonal inconsistencies.

5. "Get Smart" (2008) 51 percent: This comedy rides on the considerable charm of Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and Johnson for a few laughs, but in the end is a rather ordinary summer comedy.

6. "Pain & Gain" (2013) 50 percent: It may be his most thought-provoking to date, but Michael Bay's film ultimately loses its satirical edge in a stylized flurry of violent spectacle, though Johnson is terrific as a criminal muscleman.

7. "Race to Witch Mountain" (2009) 43 percent: Despite the best efforts of a talented cast — including Johnson as a cab driver-cum-adventurer — this is a tepid reboot that lacks the magic of the original.

8. "Faster" (2010) 43 percent: It's good to see Johnson back in full-throttle action mode, but this film doesn't deliver enough of the high-octane thrills promised by its title.

9. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" (2012) 42 percent: "Journey 2" features typically charming work from Johnson, and it might thrill tween viewers, but most others will find it too intense for young audiences and too cartoonishly dull for adults.

10. "Gridiron Gang" (2006) 42 percent: The role of probation officer Sean Porter fits Johnson like a glove; however, the execution is so cliched, the youths' stories (based on real events), fail to inspire.